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Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1876, by 

Jacob SHAW, in the office of the Librarian of Congress 

at Washington. 






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Reilections from the MifFor of life. 






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Reflections from the Mirror of Life. 



BY JACOB SHAW. 



Around that orb with life and lighfc imoued, 

Enlivening all which else were solitude, 

Three score and live times Earth Its course had made, 

Vestured successively in light and shade, 

Since, r while anticipations bright prevailed,) 

A fragile form its ii.faut breath inhaled, 

Who, (when by spirit stirring hope impell'd, j 

Mirror'd in pi'uspect bappines-s beheld, 

Saw myriad worlds, throughout the vast expanse, 

Roll and revolve and in the distance dance. 

Each tree, each herb, each flower its charms display'd, 

And Pleasure danced and winning irestures made, 

And Beauty smiled, its dimpled, lovely face. 

Its parting lips all comeliness and grace, 

Its brilliant eyes of glorious -^zure lule. 

Outvied th' effulgence of th' ethereal blue. 

Its sylph like form, in garments chaste and white, 

Seem'd pure perfection to the enchanted sight. 

All, all at once, in concert seem'd to say, 

♦'Enjoy, enjoy, why trifle time away." 

Each in its turn, is careluUy surveyed, 

And to be happy ardently essayed. 

But Disappointment of the darkest shade, 

[n scowling blackness show'd its hydra head. 

Fastened its fangs in the desparing soul. 

And said; " Though canst not reach the expected goal. 



Constant enjoyment thou canst not attain, 

For short, and transient, too, is pleasures reign." 

Reason inquired, "Can this indeed be so?" 

Experience said, "If thou the truth would'st know, 

Inquire of me, not fancies on the wing, 

From wants thou'It learn that all enjoymnts spring, 

Pain is the soil from which thy pleasures grow, 

Propensities the fountain whence they flow, 

And in proportion as the want's intense, 

Will be the pleasure as its consequence, 

When by satiety the want expires, 

The pleasure dies or from the mind retires. 

Till other wants by other means begot. 

Produce new pleasures which continue not. 

But like their predecessors live and die, 

When with the like conditions they comply, 

'Twill bring no pleasure to thy latent mind. 

Possessing what thou'st no desire to find, 

The gold of ophir placed before thine eyes, 

Would find no eager hands to grasp the prize, 

And when contentment stupefies thy mindf 

No feast of joy or pleasure wilt thou find, 

But like a statue fallen from its base. 

Wilt care not who may view thy vapid face, 

Thy form examine or thy limbs inspect, 

Who treats thee kindly or with rude neglect. 

Now learn this truth, unchangeable as fate, 

OPPOSIISG FORCES all EFFECTS CREATE ; 

Learn it of oiatter and of every kind. 

Its force attractive indicates iis mind. 

Its force repulsive to the same attests, 

And doubly proves its mind and its behests, 

Learn it of plants of low and high degree, 

The puny fungus or the towering tree, 

Froio the same soil EACH L^ROPEB food selects, 

And wh'dVs improper certainly rejects. 

As an EPITOME of all thy race, 

Learn of thyself thy motives, state and place. 

That through tby irame opposing forces act, 

As powers impel, or counter powers attract; 

The limbs obedient to each impulse given. 

Urge or resist by varying forces driven. 



The purple tide propell'd to every part. 

Returns, betimes, to vivify the heart, 

Gives life sustaining power througfhout its course. 

From its estreeme to its producing source; 

Excites to action; lofty thoughts inspires, 

Kindles the flames, and urges on the fires; 

Ambition raises; wondrous is its flight; 

It SOARS FOR FAME, up to a dazzling HEIGHT; 

It reaches far, it spreads it3 banners wide; 

Imagines earth too small to glut its pride; 

Believes all matteris its lawful prize. 

All beings rightful plunder, in its eyes, 

Invokes the powers of heaven, earth and hell, 

To raise its FAME, and its renown to SWELL; 

Annihilates all obstacles, it can o'ercome, 

E'en to the cottage shed of virtue's home. 

Muruer and Treason are its chosen friends; 

Perdue, the means are sanctioned by the ends. 

Successful villainy entitles those 

Who play its cards to honor from its foe>; 

Its dazzling splendor raises such a cloud, 

It dims their vision and ensnares the crowd, 

Elicits hallelujahs from their tongues. 

And boisterous homage from obsequious lungs. 

Its votaries raised by chance or accidents, 

Thev put on airs— of wisdom, make pretence. 

Talkof improvement, of PERFECTIOJ^ treat, 

Claim if IT's gain'd the work will be complete; 

Thence peace will reign, and happiness and joy 

Pervade all beinjjrs, grief and pain destroy . 

Delighted with the prospects which arise. 

They overlook this TRUTH wnich underlies, 

That when Perfection shall to all extend, 

CHANGE from thenceforth must have a FINAL END. 

For, 10 the TENURE of a PERFECT state, 

No power can add, nor trom it can abatel 

Pleasure and pain and hope will be destroyed; 

Vacant l)ecome the boundless endless void. 

Maiter and mind will in a grave be laid 

Intangible as space, and less than shadows shade, 

Annihilation and Perfection will be wed, 

And SLEEP an ENDLESS sleep in NIHILs bedl'^ 



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